Steve Eskow's piece on speed in a changing world follows, what i would
call, conventional wisdom. A game of life where split second changes in
the stock markets or in racing down a track can mean success, failure or
even life or death.
One of the questions we must ask is "why". Those who sell "fast" have us
convinced that instantaneous gratification is best. We have set many of
the rules and then step up to the table to play the game. Why?
Let's take knowledge. Yes the cost/bit of information is getting cheaper
and the cost/useful bit is getting more expensive. We feel like the Red
Queen in Alice in Wonderland. We have to work faster to read all our email
etc just to find that one "bit" -or, maybe, we find that one bit.
The "Red Queen Syndrome", in management and learning organizations is
escapable. One does not have to run faster just to stay in the same place.
Next, we use reductionist, methods in problem solving. We look at the
issues to be solved, split them out and prioritize them and knock them
down, one-by-one, knowing full well that by the time we get to number 3,
number 1 is out of wack again-like tuning a string instrument. Yet
techniques exist for multiple task, simultaneouus, non-reductionist
problem solving which also breaks the time binding problem.
Finally, we know that we use only 10% of our brain and we try to run all
the information through that 10%. Yet, in management and in any arena of
knowledge where the body of information is apparently expanding
exponentailly, there are ways to address the information overlaod more
effectively using the other 90% of the brain.
We keep hoping that the "wired" world will lead to a solution.
Instantaneous connections with folks, more effective delivery of
information without having to go to classes or meetings. But if the
patterns have not changed, this wired world offers only a temporary and
apparent respite.
Time is the only non leveragable resource a human has-except by leveraging
other people's time in some areas. But, even then, lacking a shift in
perspective and in operating parameters, the advantage soon, if not
immediately, results in the plate, again, overfilled and overflowing.
Technology is an extension of the human condition. If the skills we have
are the same, then very little change can occur.
cheers
tom abeles
--tom abeles <tabeles@tmn.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>